Made in 1983 - Wonderful Takamine No.8 - High Grade Japanese Made Classical Guitar in Mint Condition

Please read my 7 days return policy at the bottom of the page

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If you are thinking about a purchase of a used vintage guitar you need to accept the fact that such guitars may have cosmetic flaws solely associated with their age, but not related to any particular damage. For example their finishes change their look over the years and are not glossy and cristal clear like on brand new guitar. I see guitars as musical instruments, not a furniture. When I describe guitar as being in excellent condtion I don't talk only about its cosmetics but mostly about its structural & functional condition, sound and playbility. If you are seeking a perfect looking guitar you should abandon a thought about buying a used vintage one, especially from me.    

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If you’d like to purchase far better quality brand new guitar at similar price take a look at El Vito Standard S & Standard C postings.

Takamine Hirade No8 in mint condition

This guitar was made for Japanese domestic market. Models distributed in USA and other western countries are not sold and almost unheard of in Japan. Specifications for exported models are provided by importers and priced accordingly by Takamine Co. Models made for the Westerners had to look great and have name Hirade printed on the label in order to emphasize the fact they were made in Japan and make them more “mystique”.

Models sold in Japan never had Hirade name on their labels and they were never signed by anybody. Everyone in Japan knows that Mass Hirade, a pupil of Masaru Kohno, became a Master luthier at Takamine Co. in 1968 and lead this company to the position of a leading guitar maker in the world. It is very likely that Masaru Kohno invested in Takamine Co and became either its owner or co-owner. Masaru Kohno was very actively engaged in production of Takamine classical models until late 1970s. All higher models had simplified Kohno bracing and Kohno style rosette. The very top models had Kohno style purflings and decorated bridge.

Currently top Takamine classical models are:

#39 (Solid Spruce, solid Latin America Rosewood, all Kohno style decorations) with MSRP 360 000 yen (which translates to at least $4500 in US distribution)

#37 (Solid Spruce, Solid Indian Rosewood, with Kohno style rosette) with MSRP 160 000 yen (which translates to at least $2500 in US distribution)

#32 (Solid Cedar, Solid Indian Rosewood Back, Laminated Indian Rosewood sides, Rosewood fingerboard) with MSRP 75 000 yen

This guitar was made in early/mid 1980s, before Takamine started to install truss rods in the neck of classical guitars. This kind of label was used in guitars sold in Japan and several other countries, where there is no need to emphasize the name HIRADE for marketing purposes. Since early 1990s Takamine guitars produced for domestic market, had different design, much smaller labels installed on the right side of the center brace. 

These "domestic" guitars have different serial number system than the one used on exported guitars. On this particular guitar it begins with digits 91 which in theory mean year 1991. This is however only a pure coincidence.

This guitar is similar model to the one distributed earlier in US with the label Hirade H8. It’s definitely higher grade instrument than H8SS model distributed in recent years. It is built from higher grade woods and its top is finished with lacquer, instead of polyurethane. Eaxctly the same guitar made in 1990s would be labelled as No10. If it was made today it would be labelled as No 15.

This guitar was most likely stored for over 20 years and remains in absolutely mint condition. Although not played much (if at all) it has impressive volume and quite mature sound. It is very responsive and easy to play.

The greatness of this guitar is so well known, that I will stop my advertising endeavors right here.

Specifications:

Top: High Grade AAAA Solid Spruce

Back & Sides: Solid Rosewood

Neck: Mahogany

Fingerboard: Ebony

Scale: 650 mm

Nut width: 51 mm

Its action is set to 3.3 mm under E6 and 2.80 mm under E1, with no room on the saddle to lower the action further.

Depending on your playing technique and individual taste you may need to have the string action adjusted differently than it is right now. If you don’t know how to do it, then you need to hire a professional. If you are not familiar with these guitar basics, you shouldn’t be buying guitars on Internet.

Guitar will be shipped in brand new Musician Gear black hard shell case.

Message to Australian buyers !!!!!

In order to ship a package with guitar to Australia at affordable rate +/- $100 (USPS International Priority Mail), height of such package can’t exceed 42” and its girth+ length can’t exceed 97”. Therefore I will pack the guitar into a case that is short enough to meet this requirement.

Returns

If you are not happy with your purchase you may return the guitar for a full refund.  The cost of return shipping will not be refunded.

All you need to do is to:

1.    Notify me within 5 days after delivery

2.    Pack guitar the same way I do it, using the same box and materials

3.    Ship it back to me within next 2 days

Another words I expect this “trail” period to occur within +/- 7 days. Naturally guitar has to be returned in the same condition as I ship it to you. This is simply honest offer for honest buyers. My goal is to make your purchase as risk free as possible. I know very well that spending $1000 of hard earned money is not emotionally easy undertaking for majority of guitar lovers. I am sure that reading my feedback can ease a bit your “purchase anxiety” but it still will be there no matter how hard I try.

Victor